Borussia Dortmund claimed their first victory of the calendar year on Wednesday, with a 3-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk seeing die Schwarzgelben through to the play-offs of the UEFA Champions League.
Despite being without a permanent manager, Dortmund raced into a first-half lead through a Serhou Guirassy brace. Marlon Gomes’ effort after the break threatened to unnerve the Germans’ back line, but the hosts responded well and Ramy Bensebaini restored their two-goal lead with a little over ten minutes left to play.
As it happened
With both teams making a slow start in Dortmund, it did not look like this was going to be an instant classic. However, in the 15th minute, a fantastic ball from Nico Schlotterbeck over Irakli Azarov found Karim Adeyemi, who was able to bring the ball down on the right edge of the box, cut back onto his favoured left foot into the penalty area and hit a curling shot. Luckily for Dortmund, it struck Serhou Guirassy in the chest and bounced over the line.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was a simply dominant first half from Dortmund, despite a ten minute period as the half-hour mark that turned feisty, with two yellow cards brandished – one for each side. A scuffle between Shakhtar’s Brazilian winger, Kevin, and Dortmund’s Adeyemi saw the Donetsk player booked. Then just minutes later, a robust tackle from Max Beier earned the 22-year-old his second yellow card in consecutive Champions League games.
The influence that Jamie Bynoe-Gittens had on the first half showed everyone why he is hot property in the European market. Taking players on, beating them for pace and always looking to find shots or progressive passes, the Englishman was oozing confidence on the European stage.
Before the referee was allowed to call time on the first half, Guirassy was able to double the lead for the home team. A long, hopeful ball pinged forward by Emre Can through the middle of the pitch was allowed to bounce by the Donetsk defence, and when Vinicius Tobias failed to deal with the danger, the right-back allowed it to ricochet to Julian Brandt, who then played a perfectly timed and weighted ball to Guirassy. A little feint to shift the ball onto his left foot allowed for a beautifully low hit shot into the back of Dmytro Riznyk’s net for his 17th goal of the 2024/25 season.
But Dortmund’s domination was abruptly ended in the second half as they gifted a goal to their opponents. Gregor Kobel and his teammates were casually passing the ball around the back, before a Pascal Groß backpass saw the Swiss international take a heavy touch, which allowed the onrushing Gomes to make a sliding tackle, which duly sent the ball rolling into an empty net.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Brazilian contingent of the Ukrainian side ensured Shakhtar remained calm and composed, as Dortmund appeared content to watch them pass around their defence. The only danger in the game at this point was from Dortmund anytime they countered with Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Guirassy.
On the stroke of the 80th minute, Ramy Bensebaini was allowed to drift inside from left back and play the ball into substitute Gio Reyna. With his back to goal and two defenders on him, the USMNT player managed a beautiful backheel, back to Bensebaini who carried on his run into the middle of the box. With all the time in the world, the Algerian calmed himself and produced a lovely chipped finish into the Shakhtar goal to seal the win for the hosts.
An eventful first league phase sees Dortmund finish 10th, just one point behind three of the teams who made it into the top eight but ultimately falling short of automatic progression to the round-of-16.
All in all, it was a convincing win for Dortmund and interim boss Mike Tullberg. They now look forward to an away trip to FC Heidenheim on Saturday as the search for a new boss continues behind the scenes.
The lineups
BVB: Kobel; Bensebaini, Schlotterbeck, Can, Ryerson; Bynoe-Gittens, Brandt, Sabitzer, Adeyemi; Guirassy, Beier
SHA: Riznyk; Azarov, Matviyenko, Bondar, Tobias; Kryskiv, Gomes; Kevin, Sudakov, Zubkov; Pedrinho